Ash-sifter



P. J. BRENNAN.

ASH SIFTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 31, I920.

1,357,143. I Patented Oct. 26,1920.

- ITED. STA ES PATENT OFFICE.

rA'rarcx JOSEP RENNAN, or ruxnno rAnK, NEW YORK.

To all 'whomc't may concern:

Be it known that I,"-PATRIK JOSEPH BRENNAN, a citizen of the United States, re-

' siding at Tuxedo Park, in the county of Orange, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ash-Sifters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,'and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sifting shovels, and its purpose is to provide a device by means of which the coal can be separated from the ashes and dust in the ash pit of a furnace or stove, and restored to the fire pot, so that subsequently the ashes can be taken up with an ordinary shovel or removed in any manner desired.

The invention comprises a shiftable support mounted on the heel of the shovel and operable from the handle thereof, whereby the shovel body can be held raised when desired.

Details are setforth herein and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of thisshovel.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan.

In Fig. 1. of the drawings part of a furnace is shown in section, and we are concerned only with the grate G, the ash pit A beneath it, and the bottom B of the ash pit which is usually raised a little above the floor line F.

This improved siftingshovel comprises a scoop-shaped body 1, preferably composed of a frame 2 and longitudinally slightly spaced wires 3 and from the rear end of the body projects a handle 4: having a hand grip 5 at its extremity.

Pivoted at 10 to the rear corners of the body at the heel of the shovel is a support,

herein shown as consisting of a pair of forks 11, each pivotally supporting a wheel 12; and the forks are connected by a cross rod 13 having an elbow or crank 14: within its length. Loosely engaging this crank at 15 is a rod 16 which leads up to and is by preference slidably connected in some way with the handle, as for instance by having a loop or ring 17 mounted thereon.

In the use of this device, the shovel is inserted into the ash pit A over itsbottom B and pushed in beneath the ashes which have "Specification of Letters Patent. P tnt O t 26, 20 i Application filed March 31, 1920. Serial No. 370,253.

accumulated thereon; then the .rod" 16 is moved forward as by slipping its ring 17 along the handle 4, and thesupport is swung downward so that its shoesor wheels 12 strike thefioorF. Thisv raises the body 1- and its contents, while the operator grasps the grip 5 with his right hand and the ring and handle with his left hand; and now by reciprocating the shovel and its load within them from the ash pit; and then they may be taken up with, an ordinary shovel wise removed at leisure.

Thus is produced a sifting shovel which or othercan be used as an ash sifterby moving it A to and fro within the ash pit of the furnace, and the normal draft carries off the dust as will be. clear. I have spoken of the shoes 12 as wheels and shown them as such in the drawings, but it will be obvious that any appropriate form of shoes might be used at the lower end of the swinging support, so long as forward movement on the rod 16 turned them downward a sufficient distance below the heel of the shovel to raise its body above the volume of ashes already accumulated on the bottom B of the ash pit. This bottom usually stands a little distance above the floor F as shown, but the devicev will work successfully if it lies directly on the floor. The purpose of the elbow 14 within the rod 18 is to permit the movements of the sup' port when the rod 16 is adjustedforward or backward along the handle.

What is claimed is:

1. A siftingshovel comprising a scoopshaped body, a handle therefor, a support pivoted to the heel of the body, and means for swinging the support upward or downward, for the purpose described.

2. A sifting shovel comprising a scoopshaped body, a handle therefor, a support pivoted to the heel of the body, and an op-: erating rod connected at its lower end with able along said handle.

3. In an ash sitter, the combination with a shovel consisting of a scoop-shaped openwork body, and a handle; of a support pivoted to the heel of said body and adapted to swing downward beneath it or upward behind it, and manually operable mechanism for setting the support in either position.

4:. In an ash sifter, the combination With a shovel consisting of a scoop-shaped openwork body, and a handle; of forks pivoted to the heel of said body at either" side of the same wheels mounted therein, a cross rod connecting said forks, and a 'rod leading from said cross rod upward and having a ring slidably mounted on the handle.

5. In an ash Sifter, the combination with ashovel consisting of a scoo -shaped openwork body, and a handle; 0 supports pivoted to'the rear corners of said body and each having a shoe, a cross rod connecting said supports and having an elbow within its length, and a rod pivoted at its lower end on said elbow and having its upper end mounted for movement along said handle.

In testimony whereof, I atfix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK JOSEPH BRENNAN. Vitnesses:

I BARTI-IOLOMEW POWER,

W. E 110 CRONON. 

